Countdown to Christmas: Just Friends (2005). 4 days left!

December 21, 2013. Saturday, 12:00am (Philippine time).

I'm currently pondering over the Christmas gifts that I will be giving this year. Last Christmas was pretty lonely (gift wise) but still happy since I got to be with my parents. This year, I am giving presents (even though I'm quite broke) to my friends and family! I want every gift to be personalized, and just last Wednesday my friend and I got really tired of going around from store to store looking for gifts. Nevertheless, buying gifts for everyone made me fulfilled contrary to the stressful start of December that I had.

For this post, I will be talking about the movie Just Friends, starring Ryan Reynolds and Amy Smart.

Ryan Reynolds plays Chris, a fat guy in high school whose best friend is a pretty and popular girl, Jamie (Amy Smart). 

You can probably guess that Chris is in the "friend zone." Look at the adorable shirt Jamie got him for their high school graduation. 

Chris was bullied upon everyone finding out about his feelings for Jamie. He wanted to prove all of those jerks who bullied him that he can change and become better than they were. He then went to college, got a job in LA and became successful. 

Ten years after he experienced the most shameful night of his life, he's now a gorgeous fit man who's a big time record producer in LA. Now that he's a handsome guy who's got it all, women like him and he likes them back, but just enough to sleep with them for one night.

Being a record producer, he's assigned with a task to bring their record's new pop singer, Samantha James (Anna Faris) to Paris, but then their private jet emergency landed on a place near Chris's hometown in New Jersey. The screenshot above showed the two (Chris and Samantha) "surprising" Chris's mom by crashing in their home.

Chris is finally conveniently in his hometown, where his old best friend (Jamie) is. He reunited with some old friends in a bar in town and there he also reunited with Jamie. Jamie (as shown above) is now working as a bartender. They got together again and hung out as friends and visited places that they used to hang out in. Chris also found out that Jamie is not just a bartender, but also a teacher.

This is a long shot of Jamie's house which decorations are beautifully and effortfully put together.

All throughout the movie, we can see Christmas decors, Christmas events like singing carols, Christmas parties, and the like, amidst the white, fluffy and cold exterior.

Going back to the story.. Chris and Jamie hung out like when they were in high school, but now that they're adults, anything could happen, right? However, Chris's plan to sleep with Jamie did not work out, probably because he wanted to do that as some sort of "revenge" for his "friend zoned" self in high school and yet he still seems to have feelings for Jamie. Jamie also seemed to want to be with Chris this time despite keeping him in the "friend zone" in high school.

And as chick flicks go, something happened that caused the main characters to be in a fight and reevaluate the things that they've done, and so Chris went back to LA. But then he didn't last long and immediately went back home to be with Jamie, and then Jamie also accepted him. Aww. So cliché right? That's what we love about chick flicks! Anyway, all's well that ends well!

Four days left until Christmas and I still have four more movies to blabber about in this blog!

P.S.

This Christmas countdown will make up for the few weeks that I didn't have a Reel Thursday article. I've been squeezing in some Christmas movies in between reading for grad school to cheer me up a little and that's why I have these movies.

Reel Thursday: Upcoming Romance-Comedy Films (2013)

These past few months, I've been watching and re-watching old romance-comedy/romantic comedy/chick flick films, those that were in theaters in the late 90s or early 2000's. Some of them I really liked, some I didn't even get to finish because of the absurdity. The most recent (2013-ish) romance-comedy film that I've watched was.. you see? I cannot even remember. Now, I'm really hungry for new romance-comedy films that I can feast on. 

Photo taken from Wikipedia

First upcoming film that I'm looking forward to is The Spectacular Now. It stars Miles Teller (from Project X and 21 and Over) and Shailene Woodley, who will play as Hazel Grace in the movie adaptation of The Fault in Our Stars. The Spectacular Now is about your usual high school guy (popular and everyone's guy) who gets dumped by his girlfriend and in turn meets a not so ordinary girl who's not in the spotlight in high school. The film also deals about the concept of 'living in the moment,' thus the title, The Spectacular Now. I'm also quite fascinated with the idea of living in the 'now,' that's why I'm more excited to watch this film. Check out the trailer here:

The next movie that I'm waiting for is The To Do List, which stars Aubrey Plaza (from Parks and Recreation). The movie's about a girl, Brandy (Aubrey Plaza), who graduated valedictorian in high school and still a virgin. However, the summer before entering college, she decided to learn about sex and also lose her virginity to a guy named Rusty Waters. 

Photo taken from Wikipedia

"She's going from straight A's, to getting her first F." What a creative tagline. I'm definitely excited for this because it seems promising and fun to watch. Can't wait to have a copy of this and laugh my ass off watching Brandy try and get her very first F! Trailer below.

The last film I'm going to talk about is About Time. The title of the movie could pertain to the film tackling the idea of time or could also mean "it's almost time for something." I think it could be both, because the movie's actually about a guy who can travel in time and decides to pursue a girl that he was too shy to kiss from before. The film would eventually revolve around him trying to change his and the girl's future while traveling through time.

Photo taken from Wikipedia

I've always loved the idea of time travel. The concept being incorporated once again in a love story is making me more thrilled to watch it. The film "The Time Traveler's Wife," which was originally a book, has the same concept that involves a love story with time travel. I haven't watched the film because I really want to read the book (I already even have a copy) and it pains me that I still am not able to read it. Anyway, I'm very much looking forward to watch this movie especially that it's now showing in theaters here in the Philippines. Now, I just have to have someone to watch this with. (or I can be alone too) Trailer time!

Lastly, these films have already been released and I'm just waiting to have a copy of the first two and I'm planning to watch About Time on cinema. I'm so happy that I get to watch new romance-comedy films such as these. I'm just having a withdrawal from these kinds of films because it's been so long since I've watched a good recent rom-com. 

Reel Thursday: While You Were Sleeping.

Sandra Bullock is the queen of chick flick, along with Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Aniston. I'm a sucker for chick flick and as much as they have cliché plots, I still love them, watch them over and over again, and make my friends and family watch them. Back to Sandra Bullock, she's an actress who became well-known for a number of romantic-comedy films that she starred in. 


The romantic-comedy/chick flick that I'm going to talk about is While You Were Sleeping. It was released way back, when I was just two years old. Obviously, I just watched that recently since I haven't really heard about it with all the English words I knew when I was 2. And so, while looking for chick flicks to watch, I came across it, and decided to watch because of the plot and well, Sandra Bullock.
I would say that this part reminded me of Sandra Bullock's 2009 film, The Proposal. In The Proposal, she also confronted everyone in the family that she'll not be marrying Ryan Reynolds' character because it just wasn't right. Oh, Sandra.

The story's about Lucy (Sandra Bullock), a token collector on a train station who has a secret crush on a regular passenger, Peter (shown above). On Christmas day, Lucy saved Peter after he had fallen on the tracks and brought him to the hospital. 

Because of some weird situation that happened in the hospital, Peter's family thought that Lucy was Peter's fiancé, while Peter was in coma. It is safe to say that the viewer would expect that Lucy might end up Peter's real fiancé after he wakes up from coma. However, that's not the case. Lucy's partner is not Peter but Peter's younger brother, Jack. Lucy and Jack develop feelings for each other "while Peter was sleeping," hence the title. 

I admit, I was a little bit disappointed that the male lead wasn't Peter but when I saw Lucy and Jack's chemistry, I fell in love. They were so cute together that it made me feel all tingly inside. Their love is so innocent and heart-warming. 

Just when the two love birds develop feelings for each other, Peter wakes up and we find out that he has a real fiancé (screen cap above). It's too late though, because Peter was convinced that Lucy is indeed his fiancé, that he just have selective amnesia that's why he forgot all about her. As Peter got to know Lucy, he realizes how good of a person she is and decided that he could marry her in order for him to have a fresh start. Poor Jack though, because he already has feelings for Lucy. Lucy cannot say no, on the other hand, because she still hasn't admitted that she wasn't really Peter's fiancé in the first place.

So Peter proposed and decided to marry Lucy. Just before the wedding started, Lucy confessed that she is in love with Jack, and that she had never been Peter's fiancé. She was afraid to admit that she is not really Peter's fiancé because she thought that Peter's whole family would hate her, just after she already got used to them, and even loved them as if they're her own family.

In chick flicks/rom-com, without a doubt, everything works out and the main leads will eventually end together. Jack proposed to Lucy through the ticket booth by placing the ring on the token bowl thingy. Isn't that cute? *aww* Jack came with the whole family (except for Peter) to watch the proposal, since Lucy admitted that she also fell in love with them. So cute.

And what do you know? They got married! Instead of a car, they get a train.

Overall, this film left me in a good mood and as what chick flicks do, leaves me feeling good about life. I intended for this post to be not so detailed so that everyone would enjoy the small yet funny/cute things in the movie.

Ciao.

Best Chick Flicks.

I've been looking up more chick flicks to watch since yesterday because I just had the urge to see some heartwarming films to get into the mood. Now, I'm not much of a know-it-all in the chick flick film genre but when I looked up lists of must watch, I didn't have much to discover because I've already watched most of them. So, with my not-so-expert knowledge of these films I shall make a list of my Top 15 Best Chick Flicks of All Time. This list will include those which I would watch over and over again and those which made me hungover. I will also go with intuition; first movies which comes to my mind will be considered as my favorites. Also, this list includes what I've watched ever since I loved chick flicks, up until now. Placing is decided by its impact.

15. 17 Again

Reasons why we love chick flicks? Cute actors. Zac Efron + Matthew Perry? Whew. Grown up man going back to high school with all the new trends.. See what happens. 4 out of 5 stars!

14. The Switch

"Friend is the father of your baby? Whoa, I want to watch this." Was my reaction to this new concept injected in chick flick. It was definitely worth it and I love the kid! 4 out of 5 stars.

13. You Again

Humor. I honestly couldn't remember any good points of this movie except for fun filled fights and hilarious granny wars (Betty White FTW!). Anyways, 3 out of 5 stars!

12. A Walk to Remember

"In places no one would find.." Soundtrack is amazing. Who hasn't watched this yet? Well, prepare tissues. Probably the most lovable tearjerker ever. 5 out of 5 stars for making me cry.

11. Bridesmaids

My first impression on this was "Too boring to go on." Well, first impression would take me nowhere. I gathered the energy to continue and it was awesome! Definitely women empowering and hilarious in a different kind of way. Just don't take it too seriously and it will be fun! 4 out of 5 stars!

10. Easy A

Emma Stone is just lovely in this film. Teen film in a modern setting where bitches aren't who they were supposed to be like before and tackles all sorts of unique teenage issues. A definite A! 5 out of 5.

9. The Devil Wears Prada

Fashion and passion. Love the overall concept of the film. Must watch for fashion lovers! 5 out of 5 stars.

8. Ruby Sparks

As you can notice, I enjoy watching chick flicks with a different twists to them. The idea of making someone out of imagination into reality is definitely intriguing, thus the interest to watch. It came out pretty well and that's why I recommend! 4 out of 5 stars.

7. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Another teen film with a great sense. Maybe music lovers would be much more attached. Set in one night, filled with crazy events. 5 out of 5 stars!

6. Pitch Perfect

"You guys are gonna get pitch-slapped so hard, your man boobs are gonna concave." FAT AMY is the best! I'm not much of a fan of musical films but this one pitch-slapped me real hard. It's Aca-awesome! 5 out of 5!

5. Juno

Best teenage pregnancy film ever. Well, who makes teenage pregnancy films this witty and fun? Gotta love Juno. Not outrageously funny though. Just plain witty and tackles the subject somewhat lightly. 5 out of 5.

4. The Proposal

Ryan Reynolds? Uhm, Ahuh! One of those hilarious yet romantic (sort-of) film. Of course, Betty White does it again! 5 out of 5.

3. She's the Man

Funniest thing about this film is: Amanda Bynes becoming a guy. She's a cute guy for Pete's sake. Cannot say much but let me tell ya: I've watched this countless of times. Feel-good film and freaking hilarious bromance! Exceeds 5 out of 5.

2. Just Go With It

Rom-com veterans together in a film? Total awesomeness. Like She's the Man, I don't know how much I've repeated watching this. Love the chemistry and the humor. Exceeds 5 out of 5.

1. Mean Girls

First chick flick that I've loved. I cannot stress how much I memorize the lines in this movie. Still the best chick flick for me! Exceeds 5 out of 5.

Runner-Ups:

Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging
Jawbreaker
Aquamarine